The guard at this shrine at Elephanta (gharapuri) says it’s a ling astride a lion skin. My expert guide (coming soon to an audiocompass app near you) tells me that’s impossible and makes no sense. The emblem of Shiv would be on a symbol of Shakti, not himself. More likely, the lion was here first, when this was a Buddhist site, and the Shivling was added later. Hmm…

Some time last year, the road by the Radio Club in Colaba was festooned with these. I don’t think I’ve ever needed to use the word ‘festooned’ before but it’s the only one that fits. The little globes are, of course, marigolds – definitely the coolest genda phool collection I’ve seen.

This is in Aamchi Mumbai, in the Ranwar village – that is Chapel road and Waroda road – Bandra. There is much better, clearer graffiti up in the area, including the famous Amitabh Bachchan wall, but then, the bike and kitty weren’t there, now, were they? (I also learned that this area was called Colaria Grande by the Portuguese and is one of the original koliwadas, or fishing hamlets, that made up the island of Bondura.)

Some say the law is an ass. But the men who designed the Bombay High Court clearly thought lawyers are monkeys. This is one of the famous quirks in the Gothic building that I love. If you’re ever there, look for foxes with collars and other such creature caricatures.

So, during my birthday week, I ended up doing dinner, having people over, going to a party, going for a wine & cheese pairing event AND i got invited to a masterclass on #espressology – at the launch of @smirnoffindia’s new coffee flavored vodka. This — The OrgaCinn — is what we created with OJ, cream, cinnamon, hazelnut liqueur, simple syrup, and, of course, espresso vodka. It wasn’t half bad.

That’s me. I’m proud to have voted. I’m pleased to be able to exercise my rights and do my civic duty. This time was MUCH easier than the last time in 2009. I’m still the wrong age, have the wrong name, and am listed in the wrong gender, but they overlooked all that. I only drew attention to the spelling and the ‘purush’ part but both the list booth and the polling agent brushed it off as a typo. And after 3 minutes of being in line, I had verified my identity, pushed my selection, and I was out. I didn’t even get to crack open Kiran Manral’sThe Reluctant Detective that I’d thought to bring along with me based on the long wait last time! 🙂

P.S. I’m very disillusioned by my friends who haven’t voted. What do you do with your friends whose ideologies and basic values don’t match yours? Demotion? Deletion?

Mmmm. 😀 all kinds of ‘digestives’ on display at the Prabhadevi Fair. I’m reminded how someone I know used to use the hing goli, which really is a farty, tarty affair as penalty points during gaming. They would make their colleagues eat one if he accidentally killed someone on his own team.
Anyway, besides the usual suspects of mango, anardana (pomegranate), jeera, hing, ginger, awla, saunf, there’s also local flavor with kokum goli. Yummy!

P.s. I still do miss cinnamon hearts… that blossom in grocery stores across America at this time of year ;D